Wireless service redirection signaling based on protocol revision

ABSTRACT

A selective Global Service Redirection mechanism allows a service provider, for instance, to instruct only CDMA2000 (MOB_P_REV=6) mobiles to access specific carrier that is deployed to support advanced services known as 3G services. In another embodiment, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles are instructed to access specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed data services. Additionally, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles may be instructed to access a specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed data services. Pre-CDMA2000 mobiles (MOB_P_REV&lt;6) are redirected by a conventional Global Service Redirection Message to another carrier, while CDMA2000 mobiles are instructed to ignore this redirection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to communications; moreparticularly, the redirection of mobile station's communications.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] With the Global Service Redirection mechanism currently definedin IS-95B (the telecommunications standard IS95B is hereby incorporatedby reference), a base station can redirect mobile stations of theselected subscriber Access Control Overload class (ACCOLC) or classes toa specific CDMA carrier or the analog system. This mechanism can be usedby service providers to control CDMA subscriber access to their systemfor some special situations, for example when deploying a new system andduring potential system overload situations.

[0005] As more CDMA protocols are being developed, the current GlobalService Redirection mechanism is insufficient to meet the need of thoseservice providers who want to control global subscriber accesseffectively with some new attributes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] second side 14, a lower end 16, and an upper end 18. The flexiblefloral sleeve Global Service Redirection, which are mobile stationprotocol revision (MOB_P_REV) and desired service type (specificallydata, voice, and SMS, etc), without excluding other potentialattributes.

[0007] Hence, Global Service Redirection mechanism becomes moreselective, allowing service provider, for instance, to instruct onlyCDMA2000 (MOB_P_REV=6) mobiles to access specific carrier that isdeployed to support advanced services known as 3G services. TheTelecommunications Industry Association (TIA) CDMA 2000 (MOB_P_REV=6)standard is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0008] In another embodiment, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles are instructedto access specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed dataservices.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, pre-CDMA2000 mobiles (MOB_P_REV<6) areredirected by a conventional Global Service Redirection Message toanother carrier, while CDMA2000 mobiles are instructed to ignore thisredirection.

[0010] In an embodiment used for a test deployment application, mobilestations of specific Access Overload Class (ACCOLC) corresponding to aparticular revision level (MOB_P_REV) can be redirected to a carrierthat supports the test.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a base station and a mobile station; and

[0012]FIG. 2 is a table showing the procedures associated with GSRM andEGSRM messages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] This invention provides an easily implementable, flexible andbackward compatible solution for the 3G capable base station to redirectmobile stations to a specific CDMA carrier or the analog system. FIG. 1illustrates a base station and a mobile station.

[0014] The base station may redirect mobile stations with the followingcriteria:

[0015] ACCOLC: multiple ACCOLC classes can be selected.

[0016] Protocol Revision: a given protocol, a range of protocolrevisions.

[0017] Service type: all services with an exception, or a specificservice such as voice, data, or SMS, etc.

[0018] A new message—Extended Global Service Redirection Message(EGSRM)—is transmitted on the overhead message train by the 3G capablebase station as needed. This new message will affect the 3G mobilestations only (i.e., mobile stations with protocol revision (MOB_P_REV)equal to or greater than 6).

[0019] The base station will indicate in the System Parameter Message(or the Extended System Parameter Message as the alternate option)whether or not this new overhead message (EGSRM) is to be sent. WhenEGSRM is sent, the 3G capable mobile stations will use this messageinstead of a Global Service Redirection Message, which might be sent aswell. The 2G or less advanced mobile stations will use the GlobalService Redirection Message as usual.

[0020] Using the protocol revision attribute, the infrastructure canindicate that it intends to serve only mobile stations of a specificprotocol revision, or not to serve mobile stations in a specified rangeof protocol revisions.

[0021] With the service type attribute, the infrastructure can indicatethat it intends to provide a specific type of service on a given CDMAcarrier, or not to provide any particular type of service on a givenCDMA carrier.

[0022] The following are the changes to the current CDMA2000 signalingto support this invention:

[0023] Provide a new Extended Global Service Direction Message (EGSRM)to contain, in addition to the information provided in the GlobalService Redirection Message (GSRM) currently defined in the IS-95B, thefollowing information:

[0024] The protocol revision, or a range of protocol revisions, of whichthe mobile stations of the selected ACCOLC class/classes are to beredirected.

[0025] Service type being redirected: all with an exception or aspecific type of service (such as voice, data, SMS, or reserve type forfuture expansion)

[0026] Provide a new indicator or bit (EXT_GLOBAL_REDIRECT) in theSystem Parameter Message to indicate whether or not the Extended GlobalService Redirection Message is being sent.

[0027] The following rules or procedures are used to determine how GSRMand EGSRM messages are used by all mobile stations including the old andnew:

[0028] If both the GLOBAL_REDIRECT and EXT_GLOBAL_REDIRECT bits orindicators are set to ‘1’ (or ACTIVE STATE),

[0029] The mobile stations with MOB_P_REV equal to or greater than 6will be instructed by the Extended Global Redirection Message (EGSRM).

[0030] The mobile stations of selected ACCOLC with MOB_P_REV in therange (DIRECT_P_MIN to DIRECT_P_MAX inclusive) will be redirected by theEGSRM

[0031] The mobile stations with MOB_P_REV less than 6 will be instructedby the Global Service Redirection Message (GSRM).

[0032] If GLOBAL_REDIRECT bit is set ‘1’ and EXT_GLOBAL_REDIRECT is setto ‘0’, all mobile stations will be redirected by the Global ServiceRedirection Message (GSRM) as today.

[0033] If EXT_GLOBAL_REDIRECT is set to ‘1’ and GLOBAL_REDIRECT is setto ‘0’, only mobile stations with MOB_P_REV equal to or greater than 6will be redirected by the EGSRM.

[0034] When both GLOBAL_REDIRECT and EXT_GLOBAL_REDIRECT are set to ‘0’,there is no global service redirection.

[0035]FIG. 2 is a table summarizes the rules stated above.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for selectively redirecting a first type of mobile telecommunicaitons station and a second type mobile telecommunications station to seek communication services on a particular carrier signal, comprising the steps of: providing a first and a second carrier signal; transmitting a first redirection message; transmitting a second redirection message, where the first redirect message only redirects the first type of mobile telecommunications station to a particular carrier signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: transmitting a first indicator that signals that a first redirect message is being transmitted; and transmitting a second indicator that signals that a second redirect message is being transmitted.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first indicator is active when the first redirect message is being transmitted to redirect the first type of mobile telecommunications station and the second indicator is active when the second redirect message is being transmitted to redirect the second type of mobile telecommunications station.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first indicator is inactive and the second indicator is active when the second redirect message is being transmitted to redirect the first and second type of mobile telecommunications stations.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first indicator is active when the first redirect message is being transmitted to redirect the first type of mobile telecommunications station and the seocnd indicator is inactive so that the second type of mobile telecommunications station is not redirected. 